Have Your Cake and Eat it Too With Edible Infusions

By now, you probably know some crazy stories about edible consumption whether you experienced it yourself, heard it from a friend or watched the comedic aftermath of the “accidental space brownie consumption” on your favourite TV show. The stories follow a similar narrative: Take a bite or two, wait for what seems like forever, decide you don’t feel anything, take some more bites and BOOM! You are flying first class on an intense trip that you were not prepared for. This situation is all too common, but you are not alone and we are here to help.

Edibles can be a great way for non-smokers to let their hair down and vibe-out. Moreover, consumers who are seeking the medicinal benefits of marijuana to combat chronic illness or injury need look no further. We have come a long way from the simple “special brownie” days of yore, with a whole slew of new products on the market ranging from classic cola candies to iced tea to entirely infused (and exceptionally delicious) pizzas. The difficulty with edibles lay in the lack of precise dosing as more often than not, that TV show scenario takes hold of your entire high. This does not have to be the case. While dosing may be tricky it is not impossible– Here are some tips for making the most out of your edible experience.

Take it Easy

Unlike smoking a joint, ripping the bong or inhaling from a vape pen, the effects of edibles are not instantaneous. This lack of immediate satisfaction often leads consumers to ingesting more than they need and consequently having a not-so-pleasant high. So, take it slow. The best things in life take time and your THC infused chocolate chip cookies are no exception. Your body needs to digest and metabolize the edible before the THC reaches your bloodstream and gives you that feeling of euphoria. Because everyone’s bodies are different, this means that it might take you anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to feel any effects at all. This leads into the next tip–

Ignore your Friends

John and Sarah ate their infused gummy bears at the same time as you and in the same quantity. 45 minutes have passed and they are flying high. You, on the other hand, aren’t feeling anything. You should probably have a few more, right? WRONG! Or, at least not yet. Your body marches to the beat of its own drum, and while it may suck to watch your friends have fun while you are waiting for your heyday, patience is everything when it comes to responsible edible consumption. Remember: You can always have more later if you feel a light buzz and know you can take on more, but if you go too hard too soon you cannot un-eat what you have eaten. C’est la vie! If this does happen to you (and it very well might– patience is a virtue for a reason), the best thing you can do is find a place where you feel safe, take some deep breaths and just ride it out. If that doesn’t work then cold shower, comfy pjs and straight to bed. The high may be intense but the sleep is going to be phenomenal.

Know Your Tolerance

If you purchased your edibles from a dispensary or online shop, then your product should come with some suggested dosing guides and measurements. These measurements come in the form of milligrams and they measure the amount of THC present in your edible. Everyone has a different tolerance level; Newcomer Ned is not going to have the same tolerance as the seasoned Susan, so why should they consume the same amounts? If you are like Ned, then it might be wise to start small.

This means consuming products that have anywhere from 5-10mg of THC. Candies are a great introduction to edibles for newcomers as the dosage is typically per piece, making it easy to measure your intake and control your experience. Just because Susan is taking in whole 140mg of Nanaimo Bar doesn’t mean that you can’t cut that baby up and save some for later.

The most important thing to remember is that you have total control over your consumption levels. You are the boss, so let the edibles work for you. The reward is 100% worth the wait, so keeping these tips in mind should help you get the most bang out of your brownie.

**Cannabis products are for the use of adults age 19 or older. Please keep products out of reach of children. It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana.